Mandeville Automaker Charged with Wire Fraud of More Than $38,000

DAVID MAPP ARTHUR, 63, a resident of Mandeville, Louisiana, was charged today in a one-count indictment with wire fraud, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten.

According to the indictment, ARTHUR owned and operated a replica vintage Corvette manufacturing business in Mandeville, Louisiana. The business used several names including Retro Vette, Corvette Creations, Vetterod, Inc., Vintage Vette, and Streetrod Corvette. ARTHUR would advertise in several national car magazines and maintained an Internet website offering to build custom vintage Chevrolet Corvettes. The website listed telephone numbers for prospective customers to contact him. In 2007, ARTHUR falsely represented to the victim that he would manufacture a replica 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, but did not. ARTHUR simply accepted the victim’s money and never provided the Chevrolet Corvette to the victim. Instead of providing the victim with the Corvette, ARTHUR converted the victim’s money for his personal use. ARTHUR used e-mails to convince the victim to send him progress payments, claiming the car was being manufactured when it was not.

If convicted, ARTHUR faces a maximum term of imprisonment of 20 years, a $250,000 fine, as well as being ordered to pay restitution to his victims.

U.S. Attorney Letten reiterated that an indictment is merely a charge and that the guilt of the defendant must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.

The case was investigated by agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Carter K.D. Guice, Jr.